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Samantha Weeks
Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Education Studies BA (Hons)
DiscoverUCAS Code
X301
Level
UndergraduateUG
Duration
3 years full time
4 years full time (with foundation)
4-6 years part time
Starting
September
BCC at A Level
DMM at BTEC
Fees UK 24/25
Full Time: £9,250
Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
Fees International 24/25
Full Time: £15,200
Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200
Location
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
The BA (Hons) Education Studies degree opens up a wide range of careers, ideal if you know you want to work in education but you are not sure yet which path to take.
You will explore a range of disciplines including sociology, psychology, philosophy, history and politics and you will discover the transformative power of education. You will be able to experience education in action during your time on placements throughout the course and our optional overseas trips will help you get an international perspective. All of these experiences will help you to uncover how external influences like beliefs, culture, and the surrounding environment can impact how children and adults learn, shaping their attitudes, knowledge and skills.
Updated 28/06/2024
*See eligibility criteria, terms and conditions apply
This education studies degree has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: SDG4 Quality Education.
If you are curious about education, keen to learn more and not sure yet where in the vast world of education you see yourself in the future – BA Education Studies here at the University of Northampton could be the place for you.
BA Education Studies is a multi-disciplinary programme and is designed to explore the field of education from a range of perspectives including international education. From the very beginning we encourage a thoughtful, reflective and rigorous approach to challenging assumptions. You are encouraged to become critical thinkers questioning the very basis of education, able to critique policy, compare differing approaches and ultimately reflect on your own development as an educationalist. You will be well equipped for a range of careers working with children, young people, families and beyond.
This programme is not limited by a focus on a specific age range. You will benefit from the opportunity to deepen your knowledge and understanding of education in its broadest sense. There are opportunities to learn about and apply this learning during placements with very young children, primary and/or secondary aged children, families, young people and continuing into adult education – we believe passionately that education is relevant throughout the lifespan and can be found almost anywhere. You will be able to choose the age range and type of education setting that you wish to focus on, and you will be supported finding placements to fit your needs and interests.
One of our current Education Studies students, Millie, has recently completed her first year placement, take a look at her story and see how inspiring these opportunities can be and how they can provide the first crucial steps in your career.
Hear from our students
To provide you with a broad perspective on education in various contexts and settings, you will have the opportunity to visit numerous institutions across the UK. These experiences will enable you to immerse yourself in different environments, reflect on them, and explore a wide range of potential professions that might be the perfect fit for you. All compulsory visits are inclusive of your course fees.
Past visits have included local museums and heritage sites, forest schools, prisons, the Houses of Parliament, local schools, therapeutic outreach provisions, alternative provisions, the Museum of Childhood, and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Optional overseas visits are also available.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.
Stage One of this education studies degree provides a solid foundation by exploring a broader understanding of education including a basis in child development, and an exploration of what schools are, and could be. You will have the opportunity to apply this by observing practice during your placement towards the end of year one.
This foundation from first year is built upon during Stage Two where global and diverse perspectives are explored and the placement opportunity at this stage could include time spent in a European country.
Throughout the educational studies degree there is an emphasis on embracing educational research, and during the third stage, you will complete a dissertation based upon your own research. The placement experience at this stage will be where you can critically reflect on the impact of research in practice and on yourself as an educationalist. Ultimately becoming the educational leaders and thinkers of the future.
A typical offer for a BA degree in education studies would be:
We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.
For this education studies degree, we welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications. We also welcome mature students and students who have undertaken access courses.
Applicants are expected to hold GCSE grade C/4 in English or equivalent. GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Science are desirable. (Please note that for students who wish to progress onto a Primary PGCE after their Honours degree it is necessary to hold GCSE grade C/4 in Maths and Science)
Please note that all education studies students who enrol on the course will be required to complete:
Admission to this foundation programme is normally:
We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.
However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.
For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.
All International and EU students applying for a course at the University of Northampton must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
For information on how to apply to study with us as an International student, please see our How to apply for International Study page.
Fees quoted relate to studying Education Studies in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Fees quoted for this education studies BA (Hons) degree relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
The cost of essential trips for your educational studies degree are covered by your tuition fees. During the programme you will also have the opportunity to join optional study trips. Previously, these optional trips have included visiting one of our European partner universities (most Education Studies Students visit HAN University in the Netherlands), a trip to Atlanta or Sweden. Typically the trip to the Netherlands costs in the region of £800; Atlanta £1000 and Sweden £500. Students normally allow an additional £100-£250 for their expenses. Optional trips within the UK normally cost in the region of £20.
For information on the scholarships available to you for the education degree, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.
If you join our full-time Education Studies degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your education studies course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs in education or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.
* UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)
The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) for this educational studies degree offers a new and exciting route into studying for a BA (Hons) degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.
If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for BA Education Studies, we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.
Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.
Work based learning opportunities are embedded throughout the Education Studies degree.
In Year One, you will have 4 weeks of placement. The first week is arranged as a skills development week and this takes place on campus. This week enables you to feel fully prepared and ready to then spend the remaining three weeks in your placement setting of choice. The focus of this placement is learning and development, it takes place at the end of the first year so you are able to apply all of your theoretical learning from the first year to your observations of learning and development.
In Year Two, you have four weeks of placement: By Year Two you already have a successful placement under your belt. In this placement there is some flexibility about how the four weeks are completed, this can include a week overseas and it can also be stretched out over a period of 6 to 7 weeks, timetable dependent. The focus in Year Two is on diversity and difference and you will reflect on inclusion in your placement setting. Assessment is via a reflective report where you apply theory to practice.
In Year Three, you have two weeks of placement: These two weeks happen in the first half of the final year to enable you to spend the later part of the year focused on your own research. This placement focuses on empowering change, social inequality and creating solutions. This is a powerful conclusion to your work based learning and provides an excellent step from which to move into the next step in your career.
Examples of work based learning settings:
The amount of on-campus teaching for the education studies degree varies from module to module, as does how it is delivered. Generally, you will have the most time face-to-face with the lecturer in your first year. Some modules for this education studies degree in the second year will be taught off-campus on trips and visits and final year study is often based on tutorials and individual time with the lecturer rather than formal lectures.
There are no exams for Education Studies. Instead, assessments take the form of essays, portfolios, presentations, analysis and reflection.
There are lots of options available to you, especially in the Education sector. This could be in school settings, government / local authorities or international settings too. If you would like to become a teacher after studying this course, we can support you into postgraduate study.
Yes we teach you the theoretical and the experiential elements of the education studies. For example, we visit forest schools so that you get to experience that. Visits to museums and art galleries are also part of the course. Placements have been designed to enable students to look closely at education in action, so look at and find the theory that we have been learning about in practice. What is important is that students learn about the theory and research (which we do within the various modules), recognise what this looks like in reality (achieved through the placements) and then are able to reflect upon that (students reflect on their experiences during and afterwards).
Our optional overseas study trips provide you with the opportunity to experience different perspectives first hand and this invariably teaches us about our own perspectives. Each year has an overseas opportunity (dependent on numbers).
Previously in Year One we have offered a study trip to the Netherlands to experience the University of Han in Nijmegen, this trip looks at learning and development from a European perspective. In Year Two we have offered the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, USA where our study tour has a focus on diversity, civil and human rights – this week can also be included as part of your placement in this year. Then in the final year there have been opportunities to join a study trip to Sweden with a focus on the child in society. This trip is a wonderful opportunity to enrich the learning throughout your degree and acts as a springboard towards your next step.
Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Education Studies BA (Hons)
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Education Studies BA (Hons)
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
DiscoverIf you complete your education studies degree with us and apply for the PGCE Primary Education (5-11) (QTS) programme at the University of Northampton during your final undergraduate year, you are guaranteed an interview.
Terms and conditions apply:
Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt on the BA (Hons) in Education Studies. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on Master’s and postgraduate fees to give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers:
Education MA, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) MSc, Counselling MSc, Social Work MA, Primary Education (5-11) (QTS) PGCE
This degree prepares you for a wide range of careers. There are many roles within schools and colleges that our students move into. In addition, some students with an Education Studies degree are inspired to move into social work, mental health and therapeutic sectors, youth work and supporting refugees. Here are some examples of roles that our graduates are involved with:
"I went on to complete a master’s degree and am now working in what I’d describe as my dream role – I credit a lot of this to my undergraduate course. It allowed me to develop a love of writing and researching, as well as a strong understanding of how to produce work of the highest quality. The support of my lecturers was incredibly impactful on my personal development and enabled me to become confident in my own skills and abilities." - Phoebe White -